The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-08-16
THE ELDERS STORY
OF Good Man and His Pipe-The Queer
Recollections of Years Ago.
From the Lewiston Journal.

From the Lewiston Journal
Some good things happen that even pre-
siding elder has to smile over, and, now and
then, in moods of Renaissance, relate with
touches of lay hGmor. Here is one that
good man now living in Lewiston related
one day this week to the journal with full
SAVIOR of appreciation:
III the neighboring city of Augusta re-
sides one known as Uncle Jake, and also in
the same city was one Uncle John, retired
merchant OF that city, living at ease upon
competence and doing good i'll mild man
ner 1t was during the residence in Augusta
of the presiding elder limited at above that
Uncle John called upon the good dominic
and said to him: Did you know, Mr.. B.,
that Capt. Jake was quite sickW NO"
said the paIBop, land I'm sorry to hear it.
/ will harness up and we will go right down
and see him."
So Harvesting up they soon arrived at the
house of the worthy old Captain, whom they
found to be quite i'll. On going in, and while
the elder was cOnversing with the sick man,
Uncle John came across a very black old
pipe ON the window sill, and lingering it
daintily in his hand held it up as text for
a severe sermon to Uncle Jake, whom he
began to upbraid, relating the wickedness
of the habit and assuring him that he could
never go to heaven if he continued to smoke.
This somewhat alarmed the old man and he
appealed to the elder to know whether his
pipe stood between him and heaven The
elder told the old gentleman that if he
Uncle jake was young man he should
not hesitate to join with Uncle John in full
condemnation of the pipe, but being an old
man and having smoked SO many years, he
hardly knew what to say. He was of the
opinion, however, that he had better discon-
tinue and certainly leave 1t as a matter be-
tween himself and God.
In the course of time Uncle Jake recov
cred, although he had been brought very
low. During his illness he evidently saw
things moro clearly than before, for he pro-
feSsed sincere repentance and conversion,
and appeared at the prayer meeting to relate
the wonderful story of his illness.
His story was dramatic He related it
amid breathless interest. He told with mi
nuteness the event of the parsons call and
how the light of wisdom had come to him.
He spared nothing. He related the details
of his recovery and how, one afternoon,
during his convalescence, he promised the
Lord that he would never buy another piece
of tobacco He stuck to it for many days
and all was well until one day, while he was
at work on his raft, the devil came down on
the shore and tempted him,
until, finally, he compromised with
him, and going up to the house he gave his
hoy 25c. and said, "You go down to Mr..
Is and get me three plugs of tobacco"
when the boy got back" said Uncle
Jake to the PRAYER meeting, II filled my old
pipe, pressed the tobacco into the bowl,
chuckled away at the good time l would
have (the devil chuckled, too, and just then,
when got it all filed, the Lord said Jake,
what are you going to dor and l took that
pipe, lifted it in my hands and threw it be-
meath my feet, smashing it all to pieces, and
then l went out on the banks of the river,
under a spreading elm tree, and prayed
the Lord to help me to leave off that dread
full habit, to come down to me out of the
eternal heavens, to tell me what to do and
how to do it, to go along with me and keep
| the pipe out of my sight, and then waited
there for a reply, and what do you suppose
he saidW
Uncle Jake paused here, dramatically, for
reply, as though his ear was uplifted and
| open to receive the message.
| A chorus of ''ohsl'' and ''ahs!' followed
| from the asseinblage.
He never" continued Uncle Jake, after
| the hustle of expectancy was over, HE
never said word"